How to Use Pinterest Templates Without Looking Generic (Stand Out Fast)

Hello there! Before we dive into this blog, my name is Theo. I am in my third year of college, and I study business and finance. During that time and before, I have been building tons of Pinterest accounts, and on one of the accounts, I’ve gotten around 1+ million impressions a month on it. I’m very excited to use this blogging platform to share what I’ve learned throughout making Pinterest accounts and to show some of the new strategies I've discovered. Now, it’s time to get onto the fun part.

How you should use templates on Pinterest without looking generic. Pinterest templates are one of the quickest ways to stay consistent, post more content, and scale your account. But there is a catch to using templates: if you start to rely on them too heavily, your pins will just start to look like any other pins. And doing that on a platform that is driven by visuals and originality, blending in with other pins is the fastest way to just be ignored or scrolled past. But here is some good news! The templates aren’t the ones causing the problems; it's how you’re using them. So with a few minor changes, you can turn even the most overused template into something that feels unique and yours.

First, you want to stop treating the templates as the finished designs. Instead, you want to think of them as a starting point or a base, not the final product. Most people will download a template, swap out some of the text, and just call it a day and post it. And there's nothing wrong with that; it just makes the pins look less unique and creative. So a solution to that would be to at least change two to three major elements every time you use a template. Examples with changing major elements include the layout structure, font pairing, or even the image style. Even changing where the text sits, like whether it's at the top, center, or bottom. It can immediately make the design feel different.

Next, you want to develop the visual identity. This is where most beginners will make mistakes. They will rely entirely on what the template will give them instead of building a consistent design that matches or goes with their account. And you don’t want to do that, instead you should pick 2-3 fonts (in my opinion, I say go with 2 fonts), make a simple and nice color palette (try and pick colors that stand out, but not in the bad way), and make it have a theme (examples would be bold, soft, luxury, minimal, etc. this will also help determine your color palette and fonts too!). Then you want to apply that to any and every template you use. Over time, your pins will start to become more recognizable, even if the base structure came from a template.

One underrated trick is to customize your backgrounds. Templates will usually come with a stock photo or flat colors that are widely used. Instead, you want to swap these out with your own images or unique textures. You could use subtle gradients, blurred photos, lightly edited screenshots, basically anything you want to use. Backgrounds take up most of the visual space, so it's important to change them, and when you do, it can make the design of the pin look even better! Just make sure the background matches or relates to whatever the pin is about in some way.

Text styling is something that can make you really stand out more. Don’t just replace the words, no. Rework how they are shown. Maybe adjust the line spacing, mix the font weights, highlight certain words (I recommend highlighting the important words), or maybe even break the text into multiple sections. What I mean by that is, instead of using just one block of text, you could split your message into two different styles. This will create visual hierarchy and make your pins genuinely more engaging while still using the same template bases.

You should also think about the “movement” in the static image. While most Pinterest pins don’t move and just use images, your designs can lead the viewer's eyes. Try to use arrows. Lines, or layered elements that can lead attention from the headline to the call-to-action. Most templates are mainly just static and centered; adding directional flow will make your pin feel more dynamic and intentional.

One of the best ways to avoid looking generic is to put personality into your pins. Now, this doesn’t mean you need to be loud or flashy; it just means you should be specific. Use language or words that your audience can relate to. Maybe add simple phrases, tags, or labels that fit your niche. For example, instead of a generic “Workout Plan,” instead you might want to say “Lazy Girl Abs Routine” or “10-Minute Core Reset.” The design of the pin may be a template, but the message will feel fresh.

It's also worth creating “template variations” instead of just using a template as it is every time. You want to take one design and then create 3-5 slightly different versions of that template. Maybe change the colors, swap layouts, or adjust the spacing. This will allow you to stay efficient while being able to avoid using the same template over and over again. Over time, you will soon start to build your own little library of semi-custom templates that will feel original.

Finally, pay attention on what is already saturating the platform. If you start to notice a specific style that is trending heavily, like maybe beige minimal pins, or bold black-and-white quotes. You either want to put your own spin on it or just go in the opposite direction. Standing out doesn’t always mean reinventing the wheel; sometimes it will just mean zigging while everyone else is zagging.

I really hope you found the post valuable! If you have any questions or have a certain topic that you want covered, you can reach out to me at: theoleinemann8@gmail.com. Now time for our sponsor! This post is sponsored by MerivoFlow’s Scheduler. MerivoFlow’s Scheduler is a lightweight pin scheduler that features the ability to post for an unlimited time frame and a content calendar view for $8/mo, making it really affordable compared to other companies in the space. Interested? Check out MerivoFlow tools for more information.